I just want a bit part in your life

Dear Shirou,

I want to express my feelings more clearly than I can in person. It's not that I'm particularly inept at saying what I want to say: rather, when I see you, I am overcome by feelings of Rewrite this part. embarrassment. Embarrassment's a good word. Not I-want-to-jump-you-now. Embarrassment.

We've known each other for several years now and been best friends for almost as long. I've spent many a time with you in the student council room aimlessly chatting about nothing. And all the while, my face would be about as red as a streetlight, you absolute idiot why didn't you notice?! Rewrite this. I miss those times. Fine, that works.

What I mean to say is that my feelings for you lie somewhat deeper than friendship. I know that they are only returned as such, but I still needed to express what you couldn't figure out through three and a half years of hinting. Rewrite this.

I felt the truth had to be known. I hope this does not lower your esteem for me in any way.

Love,
Issei
...rewrite that, too.

So what does one do with two Kaitou Kid plushies? I'm open to any suggestions.

[Fail!lock to Hakuba.]
Thank you, Hakuba. I really do appreciate you helping me for the duration of that virus.

I tried contacting Haruto today. I do that on a fairly regular basis: our conversations are rarely important, but always a relief from the stress of the day. ...I digress.

I couldn't reach him. Then I had a look at the member list of the community - he wasn't on it.

...I've lost friends to the whims of the community before. I should be used to this... and yet it never stops being painful.

...So that was somewhat unpleasant. And yet I agreed for a second session... It's only because the pay is good, or I wouldn't allow my body to be used in such a way.

((He let Stein use him as a test subject, the idiot.))

[The figure in the video may not be recognizable at first, because he's bent over with his head in a trash can, rummaging around. This continues for several moments.

Eventually, he finds what he's looking for and the person is revealed: Issei, clutching his Kaitou Kid plushie tightly.]

I swear on my soul, I'll never forget you again and mistreat you in such a way... now, I need to go apologize to my friends for my failure.

In Issei's room, the two Isseis stare each other down.

The one in brown - the real Issei - says, "You're not me. You're not even a part of me, like my Shadow was. You broke up with Haruto so you could gallivant around, you viciously attacked my friends - you're the antithesis of my loyalty, what I am."

The one in black - the new Issei - answers, "That's right. And because of that, I'm much stronger than you will ever be. You're weak."

A laugh comes out of the real Issei's lips. "You're the weak one. And I won't allow you to hurt my friends any longer." Then he speaks in another language, and the words have power: "Erlösch."

"Wh-what?" The new Issei starts to fade. "You don't have any power! You can't use magic!"

"That's right, I can't. Even now, I'm copying off of what Tohsaka does. Erlösch." The real Issei smiles grimly. "But I've said it before that loyalty is the core of my being, my Origin. I can do anything if it's loyal enough. You have no Origin. What is your being supposed to be? Erlösch!"

Before the other Issei can answer, he disappears completely.

Issei collapses to the ground.

The video turns on when a pillow hits it. Young Issei and Eisuke are laughing and throwing pillows at each other. Eisuke seems to be winning their impromptu pillow fight.

Finally, the storm of pillows dies down. Issei leans back on one and asks his new friend, "Eisuke?"

"Yeah?" Eisuke asks, blinking.

"What do you think of girls?" Issei wonders aloud.

Eisuke closes his eyes, deep in thought. "Girls are... mysterious."

"So they are," Issei agrees. "So they are."

The temple had a large room with tables and chairs, usually used for meetings between the monks. Right now it had been appropriated for Issei's birthday party, and was full of food and streamers. Guests were milling about, talking to each other and waiting for Issei to arrive.

Which he did, dropping his jaw at the sight. "Wh-what is all this?"

((Feel free to talk to each other and to Issei! Enjoy~))

Hiwatari, go back to school. It's important, your family connections won't get you everything in life.

In other reaction-related news, my boyfriend doesn't think I'm a tramp, and his and my opinions are frankly the only ones that are actually relevant in this matter. ...Though the amount of people coming out of the woodwork to support me was refreshing.

The camera opens on Issei's empty bedroom, facing the door. Nothing unusual to note here, nope.

Nothing unusual to note, that is, until Issei flings the door open and practically prances into the room. He skips, he does a little twirl at the end, he radiates joy in every possible way.

Then, very carefully, he takes something out of his pocket; a flower. Issei stares at it in a manner that can only be described as lovingly, before holding it close to his chest with a blissful expression. He sets the flower inside of a vase on a shelf, and keeps his blissful expression until the feed ends.